When Ashley Reaves began her journey at Carl Sandburg College after a car accident derailed her plans to become a dentist, she never imagined she’d one day return to lead the next generation of dental hygienists. Now, as a full-time instructor in the same program from which she graduated in 2008, Reaves sees firsthand how Sandburg’s dental hygiene program transforms students—like Alan Castro-Medrano—into skilled health care professionals committed to serving their communities.

“When I was in high school, I don’t remember being told about community college options,” Reaves reflects. After her accident, however, Sandburg offered the supportive environment she needed. “A community college opened their arms to me. It was very affordable, very accessible, and felt like a community,” she explains. “I just wish young people always saw community college as an option—in fact, a really stable option to move forward and ensure their success.”

For Castro-Medrano, a 2023 graduate now working at Eagle View Community Health Systems in Monmouth, Sandburg represented an opportunity to pursue a passion for health care while staying close to his family. As the oldest of six siblings and a first-generation college student from a migrant family that moved frequently before settling in Illinois, his educational choices were shaped by practical considerations and a desire to make his family proud.

“I chose Sandburg because it was close to home, where I could still help my family,” Castro-Medrano says. “I didn’t want to put myself or my family into debt or have them support me as much. I just wanted them to be proud of what I can accomplish with my goals.”

The dental hygiene program at Sandburg is rigorous and comprehensive, spanning five consecutive semesters and combining intensive classroom instruction with hands-on clinical experience. The program accepts 30 students annually through a competitive, points-based application process.

“Every single test, every single homework assignment—we had to get above a B or an A,” Castro-Medrano explains. “It was pretty stressful. But once you get through it once, you’re just relieved you’re able to do it and keep going.”

Students begin with classroom training before transitioning to patient care in Sandburg’s on-campus clinic housed in the new Science & Technology Center. The clinic serves the wider community by providing discounted preventive dental services, including cleanings, X-rays, fluoride treatments, and sealants.

As a male entering a predominantly female field, Castro-Medrano faced an additional hurdle. “Everybody thought that a guy can’t do this, and I’m like, ‘Well, let me show you. I can definitely do it,’” he says. “I work great with children, and I can do the same as everybody else. You just have to make sure you have the energy and push through it.”

His determination now powers his work at Eagle View, a federally qualified health center where he works 10-hour shifts, four days a week. “We are governmentally funded, which means we take all kinds of insurance,” Castro-Medrano notes. “We see people coming from an hour and a half or two hours away just to get help or find someone who could take their insurance.”

Reaves’s path from student to instructor included several key steps. She began tutoring in 2012, helping struggling students master challenging material. Later, while earning her bachelor’s degree from Western Illinois University, she served as an adjunct instructor leading clinical sessions. Today, she teaches courses in dental radiography and oral pathology, while continuing to practice part-time.

“My heart will always be in hygiene, especially in public health,” Reaves says. “I really liked the public health atmosphere—just providing services for individuals and underserved populations.”

Both Reaves and Castro-Medrano credit Sandburg’s community-focused environment for their success. For Reaves, it was a stabilizing force during a difficult chapter in her life. For Castro-Medrano, the Sampson Promise scholarship—which covers up to 100% of tuition for high school graduates in the United and Monmouth-Roseville school districts—made higher education financially viable.

“I really wanted to give back to the community,” Castro-Medrano adds. “I believe every dental appointment starts at the core of childhood. I was just a big old teddy bear to my siblings. I just wanted to give that back to the children—or anybody—who was afraid of dentists.”

As Reaves continues to shape future hygienists at Sandburg and Castro-Medrano builds his career serving patients in need, they embody the full circle of Sandburg’s mission: providing accessible education that prepares students for meaningful careers while strengthening the communities they serve.